October 25 - Cooler, wetter weather across parts of the U.S. is lessening drought concerns but there are still areas where nothing has changed - in fact the dryness may be getting worse.

According to an article on the AgWeb site, the epicentre of the drought is in Nebraska and surrounding states, where experts see little chance of improvement even through early next year. In fact, severe to extreme drought continues to spread through the High Plains and getting worse in Minnesota and parts of Iowa.

A forecast by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the western half of the country is expected to be warmer than normal for December through February, while Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, northern Missouri, eastern North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and western Illinois are expected to have drier-than normal conditions.

Drier-than-average conditions are also expected in the Pacific Northwest, Northern California, Idaho, western Montana, and portions of Wyoming, Utah, and most of Nevada.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor Index shows drought is worsening in Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa, where conditions are rated mostly severe to exceptional. That’s a real threat to farmers in the area since plenty of rainfall is needed to replenish soil moisture prior to next spring’s planting season.